Locals lobby Whyalla Council to rethink its decision to close the much-loved Beach Cafe

Hundreds of locals have vented their frustration at Whyalla Council’s decision to close their much-loved Beach Cafe.

Whyalla locals are up in arms at their council’s decision to close popular Beach Cafe.

More than 250 people turned out to a public meeting last night to protest Whyalla Council’s decision to permanently close the popular Beach Cafe.

The council agreed behind closed doors at a meeting in November to close the cafe, which Nik and Anna Petropoulos had operated on the Whyalla foreshore for more than 10 years.

The decision has been blasted by locals, who want the much-loved cafe to remain open.

SA Senator Rex Patrick has been leading the charge against the closure, and presented the council with a 1600-signature petition calling for the cafe to be kept open at last night’s meeting.

“The cafe was shut down against the community will, against the public interest and in almost total secrecy,” Mr Patrick said.

Whyalla locals are rallying to save the Beach Cafe.

He said the huge turnout at last night’s meeting sent a clear message to the council.

“The council would be reckless and politically stupid not to remedy the situation,” he said.

Mr Patrick said nearly half of the concerns raised at the meeting centred around the council deciding to close the cafe behind closed doors.

“Secrecy in a democracy should be a rare exception, not the norm,” he said.

Nik Petropoulos, who with his wife operated the cafe seven days a week until it closed on January 4, said they were “disappointed and saddened” by its closure.

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the community for the outpouring of support we have received, it is truly overwhelming,” Mr Petropoulos said.

He said the cafe had employed more than 10 staff and paid about $50,000 a year in rent to the council, making it a “strong commercial asset to the Whyalla community”.

Mr Petropoulos urged the council to consider the disappointment of locals and tourists who visited the Whyalla foreshore and found the cafe closed and rethink its decision.

Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin.

Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin said the council had a legal obligation to close the cafe, because it did not meet health, food preparation, safety and building requirements.

She said the decision was made at a confidential meeting due to the information being discussed potentially compromising the commercial and legal interests of the existing tenant.

“There were no hidden agendas – this is a recognised process as part of the Local Government Act,” Ms McLaughlin said.

She said the feedback from the more than 250 residents who attended last night’s meeting was the “first step” in consulting the community “to find out exactly what they want”.

She said a survey regarding future options for the building was expected to be available next week for residents to have their say.

Originally published as Locals lobby Whyalla Council to rethink its decision to close the much-loved Beach Cafe